Introduction
to Black and White Photography

Darkroom
Layout & Equipment for Black and White Photography

For a darkroom
to be a darkroom it obviously has to be dark, but how close to the total absence
of light the dark is, is very much dependant on the type of work that is being
completed in the darkroom. Black and white film, colour film and colour papers are panchromatic, i.e. responsive
to virtually all light in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Black and white Film is more sensitive to the intensity of light than paper and therefore is
the most difficult to handle as all processing must be completed in total darkness.
This very fact has led to the development of dark bags and daylight film processing
tanks. Working in the darkroom with black and white photography papers can be done with
the use of a safelight. Generally black and white photography paper is not responsive to
red or orange light (known as orthochromatic) and therefore a red or orange
light can be used to assist in the development. Safelights are available in
a variety of designs, but by far the most popular is the Kodak beehive design.

Patterson Safelight and Kodak Beehive for Black and White Photography

The darkroom
needs to be set out to accommodate the black and white photographic processes in the most efficient
manner possible. When a custom darkroom is being designed, the designer can
split the room into wet and dry areas and track the development of the picture
in nice linear patterns. This is shown in the layout of Ansel Adams' darkroom
(possibly the greatest black and white photographer of all time) which is pictured below:

Ansel Adams' Darkroom Layout

Photograph of Ansel's Darkroom

However
the amateur or home darkroom setup is more constrained by location of water
supply and available space. The underlying message is that anybody who is
interested in black and white photography and black and white development can be
assured that a bathroom, kitchen or cupboard can be converted with little or no
effort. My first experiences in black and white photography involved a dark
cloth for a loading bag and I just waited till night time!